Programming Note: The Giants and Astros play ball on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area at 6:05 p.m. Watch Giants Pregame Live at 5:30 p.m. and Giants Postgame Live immediately after the game!
After a disastrous stretch heading into the All-Star Break,the Giants responded nicely in their first game back, defeating the HoustonAstros, 5-1, Friday night. Now Tim Lincecum looks to keep the positive start goingas he takes the hill on Saturday.Lincecum may be pitching for his job as both general managerBrian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy said Lincecum could be skipped in therotation if he struggles in his second-half debut. The two-time Cy Young winnerwill have Hector Sanchez catching him again for the fifth consecutive start.Lincecum has posted a 1-2 record and a 7.32 ERA with Sanchezcatching him.Gregor Blanco returns to the starting lineup and leadoffspot after Justin Christian went 0-for-4 on Friday. Brandon Crawford also getshis first start of the second half after coming in as a defensive replacementin the ninth inning Friday night.Giants (47-40) lineup Gregor Blanco, RF Ryan Theriot, 2B Melky Cabrera, LF Buster Posey, 1B Pablo Sandoval, 3B Angel Pagan, CF Hector Sanchez, C Brandon Crawford, SS Tim Lincecum, P
Houston Astros (33-54) lineup Jordan Schafer, CF Jose Altuve, 2B Jed Lowrie, SS J.D. Martinez, LF Scott Moore, 1B Chris Johnson, 3B Justin Maxwell, RF Chris Snyder, C Lucas Harrell, P